Topics: Climate Change Flashcards
Define “global warming”
- Observable shift in climate patterns …
- due to warming of the earth’s atmosphere
- Caused by human activity…
- releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases…
- where they trap the sun’s rays and cause an increase in temperature
p183
What are the 3 main renewable energy sources?
- Solar
- Wind
- Hydroelectric
p186
Give 4 pieces of evidence for climate change
- Avg. air temperature increasing
- Increase in avg. temperature for oceans
- Signs that polar ice is melting
- Rising sea levels
p183
What is a natural phenomenon that releases carbon dioxide into atmosphere?
Volcanoes
p183
Which country may face impacts of climate change first?
Bangladesh
p183
What’s the main end result impact of climate change?
Areas of the earth become uninhabatable (due to flooding, weather events, high temperatures, lack of access to fresh water)
p84
What are the main uses of fossil fuels by society?
- Transportation
- Buildings
- Industrial production
p184
How much of total energy supply is provided by fossil fuels?
85%
p184
What percentage of energy supply comes from nuclear?
Only 4%
p184
In what two ways does deforestation add to climate change?
Removal of carbon absorbers
Trees cut down releases carbon into atmosphere
p186
In which two countries are forests shrinking?
Brazil and Indonesia
p186
Is climate change agreed on by everyone?
Near consensus that it’s caused by human activity
Small minority: part of cycle of cooling and warming that planet has seen before
“Over 97%”
p186
Name 5 technological solutions for dealing with reducing greenhouse gases
- Increase fuel efficiency of vehicles (more miles to the gallon)
- Use electric cars
- Capture carbon and inject it underground
- Use renewable energy sources
- Shift from coal to natural gas
- Forestation
p188
Global warming Mitigation efforts by countries takes place v—-
Voluntarily
p188
What are two policy/economic approaches to redcucing fossil fuel usage?
- Cap and trade
- Carbon tax
p188
